Dani Carvajal to stay with Spain squad as he races to recover from injury

May 29, 2018

Dani Carvajal to stay with Spain squad as he races to recover from injury

1:15 PM ET

ESPN staff

Dani Carvajal will remain with the Spain squad ahead of the World Cup as he races to recover in time for the World Cup after suffering a hamstring injury during Saturday’s Champions League final.

The 26-year-old right-back limped off 37 minutes into Real Madrid’s 3-1 victory over Liverpool in Kiev, Ukraine, sparking concern he could miss the World Cup.

But medical tests revealed the hamstring problem isn’t as serious as first feared and Carvajal will remain with Julen Lopetegui’s squad for the time being.

A Spanish football federation statement said Carvajal would link up with the Spain squad on Monday afternoon but not participate in full training for the next two weeks as he recovers.

“I came here to recover and to try to get better quickly,” Carvajal said on Monday. “I am going to give it my best and try to make the team up until the time the final list has to be turned in.”

Dani Carvajal departs the Champions League final through injury. Photo credit should read SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images

Lopetegui must name his 23-man World Cup squad by June 4 and must decide if he can carry Carvajal, who is unlikely to be be fully fit for La Roja‘s first game against Portugal on June 15.

Carvajal said he had yet had a chance to speak with Lopetegui about his chances of being named to the final squad, but added: “Soon I will have a chance to meet with everyone and we will arrive at a conclusion.”

Carvajal also missed Euro 2016 after suffering another hamstring injury in that year’s Champions League final, but said this setback was not as serious.

“Thank God it was not as bad as I feared. I had bad memories from the injury during Euros,” he said. “This diagnosis says it is a minor injury. I am going to try to recover and be available as soon as possible. The Champions League was something incredible, but now I am focused on wearing my country’s shirt.”